A persnickty approach to life sparked by chlorine intoxication, saddle sores, & the solitude of a long run

The Heat Is On

If it’s only going to get worse, I can only imagine what I’ll turn into before summer’s end.

It “supposedly” takes 2 -4 weeks for the average person to adapt to the change in heat and humidity of their environment. I keep thinking I’ve got it nailed, then the mercury spikes a bit more and humidity rises again or the damn sun comes out at 5am instead of hiding behind the morning clouds. At about the 2 mile point my skin feels like it’s a steak searing on a BBQ grill and I’m sweating so profusely that I look like I’ve just come out of the bayou that runs behind our house. Then I become very irrational and start to bargain with the Gods above for people to please, please have their sprinklers on just today. I promise to run slow. Hell, I’ll even stop and walk. Just give me some waterrrrrr. Of course, no luck. People in my neighborhood NEVER water their grass…EVER !!

Ahh, so goes the quest to achieve heat stroke acclimation.

I get the science behind it all….sweat glands need to grow, dilate adapt. The heart rate and respiratory system has some adjusting to do and so I need to modify workouts and slow down. But quite frankly, it’s impossible do the scheduled “easy” run when the conditions are as such. My RPE is a 8/10 simply standing in the driveway attempting to lock on satellites. Not good!

This, quite frankly, is the shitty part of training. I LOATHE this time of year. Some hate the cold (ie.. AquaDoc), but heat is my kryptonite. Normally, I wuss out and head indoors to an air-conditioned gym treadmill. Yes, I understand all races and events are held outdoors with all the wonderful experiences oppressive heat and humidity have to offer. Yes, I realize I don’t acclimate if I’m not out there in the thick of it. And yes, I realize my performance will always be sub-optimimal if I don’t train in the conditions in which I plan to race. I KNOW all of this. It’s just so damn HOT!

So in the words of a new friend I guess it’s time to HTFU, right??? Just deal with it and get over it, right??? It is what it is. I can’t change it, only how I deal with it.

Studies say 2-4 weeks to acclimate? Well, I’ve been at it about 4-6 weeks now, so I guess I’m a slow acclimater. My pace however has picked back up towards normal. I guess that shows some sort of progress. Although my RPE and heart rate are still through the roof at times.

My fuel belt has now become my sprinkler system. My main problem seems to be with a rapid rise in core temperature so it’s imperative that I shower myself every mile or so. Running in the rain may be a good solution as well. If it ever rains again that is.

For now, I think I’ll hit the pool, do some laps and avoid the heat for today.

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8 thoughts on “The Heat Is On”

Funny post! But it’s SO true! It’s been miserable! Hubs & I walk/jogged 4 miles the other night in the 88 degree humidity and it was terrible… (Thought I was going to have the big one and keel over right in the creepy neighbors driveway…) It was in the mid to high 90s this week in Wisconsin. Thankfully, Canada (because they love us) sent a cold weather front down overnight last night and it’s 50 something here today. It’s either super hot or super cold…

I feel for y’all up north…sorta 😉 ..at least every so often the humidity breaks and you DO get that nice blast of coolness, but MAN at least we’re use to this nonsense..hell, we’re 90 degrees on Christmas sometimes…now THAT really chaps me as I do LIVE for my 40 degree workout weather !!! I’ve pulled out all my old textbooks in hopes of finding some nugget I missed 20 years ago…so far no luck…It just plain ole sucks!! Get out and enjoy the cool break while it lasts, think of me down here dying…

Man..last night I made the mistake of starting out TOO fast and for the reaminder of the 4 mile “jog” I thought I was gonna have an aneuryseum. I stopped once to let the husband get far enough ahead so that my twisted brain would stop trying to keep up with a 7 min/mi pace…He’s so gross and fast 🙂 My only hope is maybe I will literally sweat my ass off and that will reduce some of my body mass and make it easier to deal with this weather !!!! Hang tough in this heat…best of luck this weekend woot-woot..you’ll own that course!!

I run most mornings before dawn to avoid the heat but somedays that doesn’t work. Always feel like I am dying the entire time. But we had such a miserable winter and rainy cold spring I am trying to be grateful for the warmth. It is always too short I know.